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History Of Racquetball
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Published: February 7, 2007
Though it has been a very popular sport for many years, not many people know much about the history of racquetball. While it doesn't quite share the deep and storied history of more renowned sports like tennis or lacrosse, racquetball history is still an important and interesting study in the creation and development of a modern sport.
There has often been a sport like racquetball, played in some fashion throughout the world.
Tennis, handball, and squash racquets are among the many racquet and court games that have been popular around the world for hundreds of years. But, racquetball history is a good deal more recent.
Racquetball history begins in 1949 in Greenwich, Conn. A former tennis professional and avid handball player, Joseph Sobek, grew tired of the wear and tear handball took on his hands. He decided to try to take his two loves and combine them into a sport which he called paddle rackets. In the early 1950s, Sobek drew up plans for a smaller, more versatile racquet and started selling them to friends and fellow handball enthusiasts.
By 1952, Sobek's sport was a local sensation. It was at this time that the use of the small rubber Spalding ball was standardized, and the first set of rules in racquetball history was published. Seeing his new sport catching on, Sobek started tirelessly working to promote paddle rackets, trying to sell the sport to local health clubs, and teaching classes on how best to play the new game.
By 1968, Sobek had attracted the attention of Robert Kendler, the head of the U.S. Handball association. The two agreed to try to expand the new sport internationally. It was around this time that a San Diego tennis professional by the name of Bob McInerny had caught wind of the game, and coined the term racquetball.
Racquetball history took a huge upswing in 1977, riding the wave of popularity it gained when handball players began to switch over to the new sport. Also, it began to become a staple of executive workout sessions, as business people looked for a good way to have a fun, short, and vigorous workout. By 1981, the Racquetball World Championships were held, and the next year it was recognized as a potential Olympic sport. While racquetball has never officially been picked up as an medal event, the common thought is that it will be eventually.
Today, the future looks extremely bright for racquetball. The sport is now more organized and well-designed. Though the number of players and courts is down somewhat from its heyday in the 70s and 80s, the level of competition and professional opportunities racquetball can provide has never been higher.
A lot can be said for racquetball history. It is an interesting look at a thoroughly modern and adaptive sport. From the humble beginnings with Joseph Sobek to its possible inclusion in future Olympics, racquetball has had an interesting journey through the past 60 years. Whether interested in it just as a fun way to work out or as a potential professional player, a knowledge of the history of racquetball will help any player develop a deeper connection and a greater understanding of this intriguing sport.
Sources:
The History of Racquetball. Racquetball Depot. 1996-2006. 5 Feb. 2007< http://www.rbdepot.com/racquetball_history.asp> .
Racquetball. Wikipedia. 2 Feb. 2007. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racquetball>.< br /> Schwartz, Shannon. “The History of Racquetball – From Prisons to Country Clubs.” the-history-of.net. 2004. Net Guides Publishing, Inc. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.thehistoryof.net/history-of-racquet ball.html>.
Winchester, Zach. Getting Started in Racquetball. U.S. Olympic Team. 20 April 2004. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.usoc.org/154_13152.htm>.
There has often been a sport like racquetball, played in some fashion throughout the world.
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Racquetball history begins in 1949 in Greenwich, Conn. A former tennis professional and avid handball player, Joseph Sobek, grew tired of the wear and tear handball took on his hands. He decided to try to take his two loves and combine them into a sport which he called paddle rackets. In the early 1950s, Sobek drew up plans for a smaller, more versatile racquet and started selling them to friends and fellow handball enthusiasts.
By 1952, Sobek's sport was a local sensation. It was at this time that the use of the small rubber Spalding ball was standardized, and the first set of rules in racquetball history was published. Seeing his new sport catching on, Sobek started tirelessly working to promote paddle rackets, trying to sell the sport to local health clubs, and teaching classes on how best to play the new game.
By 1968, Sobek had attracted the attention of Robert Kendler, the head of the U.S. Handball association. The two agreed to try to expand the new sport internationally. It was around this time that a San Diego tennis professional by the name of Bob McInerny had caught wind of the game, and coined the term racquetball.
Racquetball history took a huge upswing in 1977, riding the wave of popularity it gained when handball players began to switch over to the new sport. Also, it began to become a staple of executive workout sessions, as business people looked for a good way to have a fun, short, and vigorous workout. By 1981, the Racquetball World Championships were held, and the next year it was recognized as a potential Olympic sport. While racquetball has never officially been picked up as an medal event, the common thought is that it will be eventually.
Today, the future looks extremely bright for racquetball. The sport is now more organized and well-designed. Though the number of players and courts is down somewhat from its heyday in the 70s and 80s, the level of competition and professional opportunities racquetball can provide has never been higher.
A lot can be said for racquetball history. It is an interesting look at a thoroughly modern and adaptive sport. From the humble beginnings with Joseph Sobek to its possible inclusion in future Olympics, racquetball has had an interesting journey through the past 60 years. Whether interested in it just as a fun way to work out or as a potential professional player, a knowledge of the history of racquetball will help any player develop a deeper connection and a greater understanding of this intriguing sport.
Sources:
The History of Racquetball. Racquetball Depot. 1996-2006. 5 Feb. 2007< http://www.rbdepot.com/racquetball_history.asp> .
Racquetball. Wikipedia. 2 Feb. 2007. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racquetball>.< br /> Schwartz, Shannon. “The History of Racquetball – From Prisons to Country Clubs.” the-history-of.net. 2004. Net Guides Publishing, Inc. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.thehistoryof.net/history-of-racquet ball.html>.
Winchester, Zach. Getting Started in Racquetball. U.S. Olympic Team. 20 April 2004. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.usoc.org/154_13152.htm>.
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